RHDS54 e30

[LondonTom]

Has anyone had the above conversion on a dyno? I'm struggling to find anything on the net.

Thanks.

[ajay]

Good luck, iv'e never seen one either,despite being on my second carnation of the S54 conversion.
If you do come across anything pls share, i doubt you will though somehow a˜†

[LondonTom]

Thanks Ajay - I'm starting to become a little sceptical over the conversion compared to say a well installed s50. Undoubtedly the s54 is a superior engine but why so little published on the power it produces once transplanted to an e30.

[ajay]

I wouldn't consider an S50 over an S54! Exactly "that" how you put it i think is the problem...! Everyone wants a cheap/easy solution so they proceed with their conversion in that manner " the easiest/ cheapest aproach to every challenge they are faced with when doing these conversions and that IMO wil not produce the result they were hoping for.
Yes the S50/b32 are easier to get running nicely but nowhere near as satisfying as nailing the S54a˜ˆ

[Superleggera]

Im in the process of building one - but you are right, not many that have been dyno'd but plenty of LHD ones in the US have been and are producing good power.

Whats your concern ?

[LondonTom]

Well, put it this way, if I'd gone to the expense and the effort of installing the s54, one of the first things I would do is get the car on the dyno...

[Superleggera]

I have to say it is not on the top of my list of things to do once my installation is complete - at some point I will but I would say it will be sometime in the first year of it running

[ajay]

Im in the process of building one - but you are right, not many that have been dyno'd but plenty of LHD ones in the US have been and are producing good power.

Whats your concern ?

Any links to some of the plenty US dyno,d S54 E30's..? Cheers

[Superleggera]

r3vlimited is a good place to look - there are a few in this thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=327183

[ajay]

One E30 S54 swap in there, the figures are no way impressive enough to justify the cost or Extra weight they add.

[Superleggera]

One E30 S54 swap in there, the figures are no way impressive enough to justify the cost or Extra weight they add.

In comparison to what ? Weight difference between the s54 and s50 is marginal, but i guess so is the power difference - 20hp at most (most people state s50 and s54 dont put out the manufacturer claimed outputs anyway).

Is the conversion cost between the two different ? - Yes, the S54 conversion seems to be more expensive although Im starting to believe that for a like-for-like conversion, as time goes on, they are not going to be that much different either. In fact the s50b32 lump is becoming harder to find and therefore almost the same cost as a S54 from what I can see.

I think comes down to what you intend to use the car for and whether that extra cost is worth the marginal increase in power. I think its pretty clear that if you want best power for your money then neither of these conversions is the way to go.

[ajay]

When i talk about weight difference im refering to the iron block, 38kg heavier than say an m52 ( some say considerably more)& if a six speed is being used that too, as for the power, As we all know these conversions don't run cats ( should help if anything) but because most shy away from a decent exhaust which if sympathetically made can make the world of difference along with other short cuts,then i guess the 300bhp mark is as much as can be expected.... Not even 100bhp per litre, i would be pretty disapointed, & not bother if that was the fruit of my efforts.

[Superleggera]

I have to agree with you on that - for me personally I would be expecting somethign around the 340 mark to make it a worthwhile conversion - which I think is achieveable if you do it right - no bodge job on the headers, good exhaust without cats, and a good tune. Time will tell if I get there.

[Mikey_Boy]

I think you both have good points. I love the S54 in my Z4 coupe (and it does feel 340hp strong) but it's clear that the complexity of the newer engine could put a lot of folks off putting it into an E30. The S50 is also a great engine but most are getting long in the tooth these days so most on the market will need a look inside to ensure its ok.

Main thing for power is that pretty much all Sxx engines are exhaust critical so that makes RHD a challenge and spending money there is the most important part of the conversion on many levels.

[Dave_M3]

To be honest, if using a standard E30 steering rack, a RHD S54 should give closer to claimed factory power than an S50 engined E30 unless some very good manifolds were used on the S50

Mate's one made 347bhp anyway I think or something like that. it was running a link ECU however although wasn't fully happy with the map at that stage yet.

[Superleggera]

Unless I have mistaken the OP, I think the concern is two fold - hardware and ECU. The main unknown about the standard ECU is that in order to work a lot of sensors are disabled and what effect is that having on the engine output ?

May be with you mates conversion that is less of an issue given the use of an aftermarket ECU - I dont know.

As for hardware it seems the consensus is that the S54 is sensitive to the header and exhaust set-up. Most will require modification or aftermarket items.

Fortunately in my case, given the modified chassis and engine position the S54 is using stock unmodified oil pan and headers.